Keeper off in early injury blow

PUBLISHED: 07:10 02 February 2006 | UPDATED: 14:35 12 May 2010

Michael Wagstaff in action for Melbourn

Melbourn 1 Great Shelford Reserves 2 STILL looking for their first win of the season, Melbourn will feel disappointed they did not get a least a point from this sometimes over-zealously contested match. The game did not start well for the home side when p

Melbourn 1
Great Shelford Reserves 2
STILL looking for their first win of the season, Melbourn will feel disappointed they did not get a least a point from this sometimes over-zealously contested match.
The game did not start well for the home side when player-manager Mick Walker had to use his only substitute, Steve Marriott, inside a minute, after goalkeeper Chris Paxton was carried off after injuring a knee in a collision with a Shelford striker.
Walker donned the gloves, James Heslam took Walker's position in defence and Marriott slotted into the middle of midfield.
The host's manager was called into action almost immediately, pulling off a fabulous save, low to his left, to keep out an unchallenged header.
Shelford did take the lead midway through the half. Jason Gray was played a little short by Walker's goal-kick, Shelford got a lucky break of the ball and their forward stabbed the ball just inside a post.
Moments later, Marriott's long-range effort looked destined for the top corner but the keeper somehow got across to turn it away.
The visitors should have doubled their lead soon after. Heslam's back pass wrong-footed Walker and his clearance struck a Shelford player and sailed just wide.
Throughout the match, Walker continued to pull off some wonderful saves.
Michael Harper had an impressive game at left-back and he created Melbourn's best chance of the second half.
Twice in quick succession Harper broke up a Shelford attack. The second time he played a great through ball to Gray, who raced down on goal but dragged his shot wide.
In the closing stages, Shelford made it 2-0 with a volley at the far post although Marriott was unlucky not to make a block on the line.
With time running out, the hosts pulled one back. Another excellent through ball, this time from Marriott, found Russell Cooper and he did well to work an opening before firing low into the corner.
Melbourn: C Paxton (S Marriott), A Edwards, M Walker, T Walker, M Harper, J Heslam, F Lury, M Wagstaff, J Gray, S Edwards, R Cooper.
- It is a real six-pointer, on Sunday, as Melbourn travel to second-from-bottom Camden United.